What is yoga?
Yoga is a system of physical and mental practices that originated in India more than three thousand years ago. The word yoga typically means “union” between the mind, body, and spirit. Its purpose is to help each one of us achieve our highest potential and to experience enduring health and happiness. The practice of yoga makes use of different movements, physical postures, breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and meditation. 

Yoga brings stability to the body and the mind. It increases the lubrication of joints, ligaments and tendons in the body, massages all the internal organs and glands, and can create a positive, permanent difference for anybody practicing it on a regular basis.

 How can it help?
Yoga can be tailored to your individual health needs and can be used during any part of the cancer journey. Depending on your stamina and overall health, you can choose from gentle, easy poses to high intensity or physically challenging poses. Those who enjoy the practice of yoga and use it regularly will find that it can be helpful on many different levels. Simple movement is imperative for anyone undergoing cancer care.  Movement helps move the blood and lymphatic fluid—the body’s main way of eliminating debris (and a lot of debris is produced when undergoing chemo or radiation). Breathing exercises in yoga help exercise the lungs, one of the main organs of detoxification. It’s not uncommon for most adults to breath shallowly or even unconsciously hold their breath for long stretches at a time. Yoga practice can help engage the lungs again and bring more oxygen to tissues, stimulate the immune system, and encourage detoxification and elimination.

 Many people love yoga because it’s such a holistic practice. Over time yoga teachers can help students feel grounded, create a sense of mindful presence and self-awareness, and develop a healthy and balanced approach to living life.  Many people find having a practice like this extremely helpful in the midst of conventional cancer care.

 Check our community calendar for free or low cost yoga classes for people with cancer.